My wife and I have been listening to the podcast for a while and are interested in learning how we can use real estate investing to help us along the path to financial freedom, so we can spend more time with our child (and future children!)

I grew up on that property as a child, I'm planning to renovate,hold and rent out the cabin and barn.

Armchair agent attorneys, mistakes agents make and don't tell you about in a transaction until the last second or after the fact, notices from real estate commissions about (agent non-compliance for continuing education, back child support owed, student loan delinquencies, IRS tax levy request notices to broker on agents part of commission payout on a transaction,non-payment for agent license renewal fees, etc.)It goes on and on and on the drama.

Then you're going to need to do a title search and figure out exactly what the liens on title are.For example, let's say Butler County RE taxes have priority over everything other than city taxes, HOA assessments and child support.

It's easy in today's market of crypto-millionaires and fast-action TV shows to feel like you're missing out on a craze, but the worst thing to do is get yourself into a property without knowing the numbers behind it, resulting in sleepless nights, unpaid mechanics liens and potential foreclosure due to hasty decision making. 

Thats what I see most of the time.You are not doing something wrong you are trying to protect yourself and to avoid any title problems in the future.Basically you are buying the property that simple.I'd call the county clerk and ask about which site to use to search the records...that way you can do your own search not saying professionally but at least sometime you can find some liens on any property interested in like labor liens, child support, abstract judgments...etc could save you some time and $$$ by filtering your targeted properties before doing the title search through title abstractor.Some times I offer the former owners some time to leave like few weeks so I dont need to pay them alot and get them sign a short term lease with zero rent with waving their rights to fight any eviction and giving me the right to get the writ of possession right a way once the short term lease ends without giving them any eviction notice.Hope that helps.Good luck to all

{child} corporation.This is one area where it pays to consult with an accountant who has cross boarder business/real estate experience before venturing too far down the path.

The is no reliable or affordable child care in our area.

I would refinance, cash out, keep the property Buy a nice house in Marin county for 900k( if you have a child, the school and weather are amazing)I did the same 3 years ago when I left the city after 8 years and never looked back.

I actually grew up in the Fairfax area as a child, and currently am living and investing in Washington DC.